Steering-gear for motor-vehicles.



. I l/ 1 v l q NESSES l l v 1 v INVENTOI; v

w. H. APPLEMAN.

STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-23.1913.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916. I

2 SHEETS-$HEET 1.

w. H.- APPLEMAN.

EEEEEEEEEEEEE OR- MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FIB-1b JAN. 23, 1913. v I I 1,167,873. Patented Jan. 11, 191 '2 EEEEEEEEEEEE 2- iiisirnn siarns PATENT @FFWE. -f

WILLIAM H. APPLEMAN, 0F BELMONT, NEW YORK.

To all whom it may conce n.

' Be it known that I, VILLIAM1APPLE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Belmont, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steering- Gears for Motor-Vehicles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to that portion of the steering mechanism which actuates what is usually termed the steering arm.

The object of my invention is to provide I a steering device of superior strength and durability, exceptional accessibility of interior parts, simplicity of adjustment in case of wear, and at the same time greatly reduce the cost of construction. r i

I attain this object in the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, in elevation with portions removed to afford an interior view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the steering column and carrying the section of large nut which is omitted in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken on a line through the center'of the rocker with 1 portions removed to afford an interior "view. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the pinion member thereof, omitted in Figspl and 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse section of both'pinions required in Fig. 1 taken through their cen ter and showing details of construction. Fig. 6 is a composite-plan and sectional view of the cap used ininclosing the lower end of Figs. 1, 8 and 18, same being transversely sectioned on a line with the center i of the bolts which secure it in position. Fig.

7 is an external plan view of a plate which forms part, of the rocking member in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal rear ele-' vation View ofmy" device assembled for use,

' less the steering arm which is only indicated in part in Fig. 1. i Fig. 9 is a transverse view partly in section of a modification o1". my devicev dealing chiefly with and taken through the center of the rocker,

structe'dinternal view.- Figf10'isa' side elevation'view inwhich the relation of the STEERING-GEAR roR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

V Specification of Letters fatent.

' Applicationfiled lanuary 23, 1913.

fication.

g I a portion" A being removed 1n order to afford an unob' ".50

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

Serial No. 743,857.

nally moving nuts,a's required in said modi Fig. 12 1s a rear elevation View of said modified nuts as they would appear beforebeing divided or as if used as a single nut. Fig. 13 1s a top plan vlew of a spacing,

member used in said modified rocker. Fig. 14 is a side elevation view of same. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal plan view of the primary members of said modified rocker.- Fig. 16 is a view of the crank plate and arm shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 presents two views of the companion crank plate and arm required with Fig. 15, in order to assemble the rocker as shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 18 is a front or top elevation view of my device assembled for use, and may be regarded as being adapted to either the first described or the modified form of construction, for

while the large nuts and rockers are not absolutely interchangeable, the difference is 1n specifications rather than in form, and

are so slight as to not present any material external difference. 1 r 1 Like characters indicate like parts-in the various figures. i

A single piece housing 1, isprovided for confining and supporting the various parts of my device. It contains a circular transverse chamber, m'achined internally and A rotatable housing 1 and steering post 2 and having A semi-rectangular shaped toothed abutments lying side by side thereon, the sides of which contact with semi-rectangular machined chambers in housing 1 and thus serve to guide them against rotation. A longitudi nal liner or filler isjsoldered to one of said nuts equal to and occupying the space of the material removed'by the tool used in ma chining them apart. v v

.- For convenience in threading, the. lower end of the original nut is counterbored to match the extreme diameter of the threads on steering post 2. After threading it is bushed at the lower end to a sliding fit on the blank portion of the steering post, said bushing being secured on opposite sides so that each portion of the nut retains its sleeve after being milled apart. A rocker is journaled in said transverse chamber employing a shaft 5 to which is secured a circular flanged plate 6 by a key 7, said plate being machined to fit said transverse chamber both internally and laterally. Shaft 5 is further fitted with a pinion or sector 8,

said pinion or sector being also secured to.

shaft 5 by key 7. Pinion 8 has a face in width equal to the width of the toothed abutment of nut 3. It also has a peripheral journaled bearing within the walls of said transverse chamber and has a toothed section which meshes with the toothed abutment of nut 3. It is provided with a taper or funnel shaped hole 10 facing away from plate 6 and lying opposite shaft 5 from its toothed section. A second pinion 11, substantially a duplicate of pinion 8, having a central hole 12 but no keyway and being free to rotatable adjustment is fitted upon. shaft 5 alongside of and in lateral contact with pinion 8 and meshes with the toothed abutment of nut 4. Pinion 11 is provided with a hole 18 drilled upon the same radial line as hole 10 in pinion 8, but rotatably crnsidered may be about three degrees either in advance or rear of the hole in pinion 8. Hole 13 is threaded and provided with a 1 taper nosed adjustment pin 14 having an external extension carrying a thread, a jam nut 15 and also a square end for adapting it to be turned or held by awrench. A com panion plate 16 similar to plate 6. having a hole 17 drilled to a revoluble fit on the threaded extension of shaft 5, is fitted thereto and rests against the outer lateral surface of pinion 11. Plate 16 has also both a journaled and a lateral fit against the walls of the transverse chamber, the same as those of plate 8 and has a circular opening 18 through which the external portion of adjustment pin 14 protrudes. It is held in position by nut 19 which fits the threaded ex- 7 tension of shaft 5. and when said nut is tightly drawn shaft 5, plate 6, pinions 8 and 11 and plate 16 are held together almost as firmly as if they were all integral.

The lower end of housing 1 has a semirectangular opening of substantially the same shape and size as a cross section of the abutments of both nuts 8 and 4 combined with just freedom enough to permit of said nuts being inserted through it. Said opening is closed by a semirectangular flanged plate 20 which is held into position by bolts 21 and 22 which pass through the walls of housing 1. I Plate 20 is 'counterbored to re-Eiibut a circular spacer 27, having a hole 9 and. 130

ceive the lower end of steering post 2- and serves as a guide and foot rest for the lower end of said post.

An externally threaded sleeve 23 bored to fit the reduced diameter of steering post 2 engages with a thread in the upper end of housing 1 thus inclosing the upper end of its longitudinal chamber, and also serves as an adjustable thrust member by contacting with the top of the thread and enlarged portion of steering post 2, thereby forcing the lower end of steering post 2 into light but constant contact with plate 20 thus eliminating all lateral motion of said steering post. Sleeve 23 is locked in any desired position by compression bolt 24 which contracts the upper end of housing 1. A stub or portion of a steering arm 25 is partly shown for ins dicating its connection with rocker shaft 5. This arm may be extendedand terminated in any fashion desired for engaging and operating reach rods leading to the axles of the vehicle.

Fig. 1 shows housing 1, steering post 2, half nut 3, rock shaft 5, flanged plate 6 and pinion 8 in their respective positions. Fig. 3 presents the same parts with nut 4 and flanged plate 16 added. The addition of pinion 11 of Figs. 4 and 5 with its taper nosed pin 14 inserted into hole 10 of pinion 8 along with nut 19 completes the assembling of the device. It will therefore be observed that when steering post 2 is turned in either direction half nuts 3 and 4 move longitudinally in unison and as each of said half nuts engage with its respective member (of what for the time being has become a rigid sector) the rocker is actuated in the same manner as if a single nut and single pinion only were being used. As soon however, as lost motion becomes apparent nuts 15 and 19 may be slackened, after which by screwing pin 14 inward, pinions 8 and 11 are slightly rotated in different directions carrying the respective nuts with which they engage with them until the latter is arrested by means of their contacting with opposite sides of the threads on steering post 2. Nuts 15 and 19 are then drawn up tight and the device will render the same accurate s rvice that it performed when new.

In the modification, Figs. 9 to 17 inclusive, half nuts 3 and 4 instead of having toothed abutments are provided with slightly longer abutments, each of which contains a single open rectangular slot or channel way, while in the rocker, flanged plates 6 and 16, which are secured to rock shaft 5 in the same manner as in Figs. 1, 3 and 8 are provided with separate crank arms 8 and 16 which extend within the opening in the abutment of the nut facing it and are provided with thimbles 8 and 16 which contact with said nuts. Pinions 8 and 11 are dispensed with areas .10 but threaded being-pro'videdin plate 6.

7 Plate 16 is also provided with'a hole l8 in s and 8 except that in the-modification plate 16 a corresponding position but slightly slotted, through which insteadiof pin 14a bolt 1 1 is inserted and passes through" spacer 27 and engages with-the aforesaid thread in plate 6 thus joining with nut 19 inbinding the aforesaid members of the rocker rigidly together. This method of adjustment isalmost identical with that in Figs. 1, 3- and 5 along with crank arm 16 may be adjusted in either direction, same being accomplished by slackening bolt 14 and nut 19, after which, by tapping against a lug 26 which is inserted into plate 16,- the latter is rotated carrying half nut 4 with it until saidnut is arrested by the resistance of the opposing nut and rocker arm, and in which position plate 16 is then secured by tightening up bolt 14 and'nut 19. By slotting hole 13 in pinion 11 and passing a. lug pin through plate 16 into pinion 11, in order that the latter may be controlled externally, the adjustment shown in the modification may readily be applied to Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 8, while that shown in connection with them may also be readily applied to the modified construction. Either of the rockers shown may be applied to a single or undivided nut or a divided nut may also be readily applied to anundivided pinion designed to engage them and still r'etaina' proportionate share of adjustment. In fact'such application is anticipated, but by dividing both the rocker and the nut as shown, absolute elimination of lost motion is provided for, since a take up sleeve at the top of the housing is a natural incident of construction. A wide scope of possibilities, however, are opened up by a rocker built up of members of vastly greater diameter than normal rock shaft bearings, and then causing said members to be peripherally journaled in the transverse'cha'mber, since it not only eliminates all outside or external trunnion relations between the housing and rocker but paves the way to external accessibility to internal parts as well as to applying" the rocker externally or without otherwise dismantling the device. At the same time it affords a much greater journaled surface for supporting the rocker and renders possible a rocker construction many times stronger than can be otherwise employed, and with out detracting from the overall or symmetrical outlines of the. device. The fact that the peripheral outlines of the rocker lie abutment on'eachmember of said divided nut, a rocker journaled in said housing compr singt'wo' toothed members lying side by side, one of which is rotatably adjustable in relation to the other, and each of which meshes in the toothed. abutment of a'separate member of said divided nut, and means for rotatably adjusting one of said toothed members in relation to the other.

25The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post entering therein, a m'ember moving longitudinally onsaid steering post, a rocker journaled in said housing comprising members which are rotatably ad justable in relation to each other,'means for 7 locking -said members rigidly together, a threaded engagement between said steering post and said longitudinally movingmeinber, and a toothed engagement between said latter member and said rocker. I

3. The combination of a'housinghaving a longitudinal and a circular transverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber having a. thread thereon, a nut moving longitudinally on said thread and having a toothed section thereon, a rocker journaled in said housing comprising a spur toothed member; the toothed face of which engages with the teeth on said nut and also contacts piivotally with'the circularwalls of said transverse chamber.

4. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and a circular transverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering'post entering said longitudinal chamber having a thread th'ereon, anut moving longitudi nally on said "thread and having a toothed sectionthereoma rocker journaled in said transverse chamber comprising two circular plates which are peripherally journaled against'the walls of said transverse'cham- 5'. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and a circular transverse chamber thereln, a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber having a thread thereon, a nut moving longitudinally on said thread having a toothed section thereon, a rocker journaled in said transverse chamber comprising two circular plates which have a peripheral pivotal and also a lateral engagement with the walls of said "transverse chamber, and a toothedmember confined between said circular plates through Which motion is imparted from said nut to said rocker.

6. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and a circular transverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber having a threadthereon, a nut moving longitudinally on said thread having a toothed section thereon, a rocker journaled in said transverse chamber comprising a rock shaft carrying'a circular plate Which is peripherally journaled' against the inner circular wvalls of said transverse chamber, and means for imparting motion from said nut to said rocker.

7. The combination of a housing-having a longitudinal and a transverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering'post entering said longitudinal chamber having a thread thereon, a nut moving longitudinally on said thread having a toothed section thereon, a rocker journaled in said transverse chamber comprising an external circular plate having an extension thereon which extends Within, and is journaled upon the circular Walls of said transverse chamber, and a toothed member of less diameter than said circular plate, Which is also carried by said rocker, and Whichengages With said nut.

8. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and a transverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber having'a thread thereon, 'a nut moving longitudinally on said thread having a toothed section thereon, and a rocker journaled in said transverse chamber comprising external circular plates having an internal and anexternal bearing against the Walls of said transverse chamber, and a toothed member also carried by said rocker Which engages With said nut.

9. The combination of a housing having-a longitudinal and a circular transverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber having a thread thereon, a nut moving longitudinally on said thread having a toothed section thereon, a rocker journaled in said trans verse chamber and'a toothed member carried bysaid rocker Which engages :Wlth said nut and which is also peripherally j ournaled against the circular Walls of said transverse chamber.

being laterally inserted directly through the lateral opening in said transverse chamber and also comprising. a circular plate which pivotally engages With the Walls of, and closes the lateral opening in said transverse chamber, said toothed member having a meshing engagement With thetoothed sec tion of said nut.

11. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and a circular transverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber having a thread thereon, a longitudinally divided two part nut moving longitudinally on said thread, a rocker journaled in said transverse chamber comprising two circular plates spaced apart, each of said plates being peripherally journaled against the inner cncular Wallsof said transverse chamber, and means for imparting motion from each member of said divided nut to said rocker.

12. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and a circular transverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering post inserted in said longitudinal chamber, a rocker inserted in said transverse chamber, comprising a toothed member Whichis peripherally journaled against the circular Walls of said transverse chamber, a shaft inserted through said toothed member, which obtains pivotal support in relation to said housing through said toothed member, and means for imparting motion from said steering post to said rocker.

\V. H. APPLEMAN.

Witnesses Gr. W.'MALLEY, M. W. SORTORE.

Copies of this'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

